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119 Comprehensive Review of Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Options 13.1.2.3 Anaerobic [Digestion Potential SCS initiated discussions with UNC staff to see if future collaboration opportunities would make sense for the Town. UNC staff confirmed UNC's desire to end its use of coal on campus and to move to renewable energy supplies. The current effort to burn LFG is one move in that direction. UNC is interested in looking at the feasibility of anaerobic digestion to process the university's food waste and biomass requiring disposal. They recognize a significant advantage of anaerobic digestion in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the coal -fired boilers as well as providing renewable energy supplies. Food waste is currently collected by Orange County at four campus locations (e.g., dining facilities) and hauled off campus to Brooks Contracting where it is composted in windrow piles. This existing operation is a key development towards a successful digester project in that source separation of organics and food waste is presently occurring and these operations do not need development. Furthermore, with the proven operations of firing LFG in the campus boilers, biogas generated by an anaerobic digestion operation may simply be fed into and blended with LFG in the existing pipeline, thereby reducing the need for a separate conversion unit associated with the anaerobic digestion. unit. However, SCS's discussions with UNC staff recognized that siting an anaerobic digester operation at the landfill, near the campus power plant, or elsewhere on campus would likely present challenges. SCS recognizes that the development of the new Carolina North campus and construction of a second power plant to support this campus while utilizing the LFG presents a unique collaborative opportunity to include anaerobic digestion in the design of this infrastructure and its utilities. UNC staff has noted that a few other academic communities have successfully implemented (or are evaluating) anaerobic digestion systems to manage their food wastes, and thus supporting sustainable, green campus operations to include: the University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University. Therefore, the interest in developing this technology is high. University staff believes other neighboring communities could partner on such a project. While implementing an anaerobic digester project to manage campus and Town organic and food waste would impact the current aerobic composting operations, UNC staff also recognize the addition of many other sustainable benefits including greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, generating RECs and carbon offset credits, and promoting safety by eliminating long hauling. 13.1.3 North Carolina State University NCSU houses a department of Waste Reduction and Recycling (WRR) which is also the name of one of the eight key focus areas for the Campus Environmental Sustainability Team (CEST). The goal of WRR is to divert university waste from the landfill through education, efficient processes and operational endeavors. Since establishing the office in 2001, NC State has seen WRR's efforts make tremendous improvements to the campus solid waste management program. As of 2010, the University has reportedly achieved a 45.45% diversion rate. The University has set a goal of 65% diversion rate by 2015, as outlined in the Sustainability Strategic Flan. NCSU has a had a long history of solid waste recycling going back to 1975 when the University began hand sorting of campus recyclables. A campus -wide curbside recycling program was v2.1 185 10/22/12